These insects are called Psocids (pronounced “so-sids”). They do not damage plants; they feed only on organic matter that is trapped in the crevices of the bark. Once these insects are mature, they will move out of their protective webbing. No control measures are necessary. If they are unsightly, spray the webbing with a strong spray of water to destroy it and disperse the insects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Recent severe storms have caused many tree limbs to break and trees to fall. Here are a few steps you can take to minimize this risk to your trees: Keep your trees healthy with regular mulching and periodic deep watering during dry periods (refer to the third question, below). Provide plenty of space and protection for the roots. Avoid injuries to the trunk, such as scrapes from the lawn mower. Remove dead branches using proper pruning methods, but use caution since excessive pruning weakens trees. Call in an expert to assess large trees for risk. This will save you the expense and disappointment of removing a healthy tree, and prevent the property damage and personal injury caused by the fall of a weak or unhealthy tree.
It is the small fiberous roots that get the nutrients and water from the soil; the larger roots are mainly for transporting the nutrients and water up to the tree. Each of the roots is responsible for a certain part of the tree. So if you were to cut off some roots, only the parts of the tree that they served would be affected. lastic sheet and peg the corners down make sure that there is a slight gap at the bottom so it can breath.
If only the surface bark is stripped, it will heal itself. If the damage is into the first layer of wood you may need to bandage it similar to a human wound. Wrap the area with a cloth and tape it up. (I use cheap duct tape so the sun destroys it in about a year) For sensitive plants (roses for example) you may want to soak the cloth in wax to make a nice seal around the wound. Even if the bark is damaged all the way around the branch, it may still heal in time, on some trees. If the first layer of wood is removed all the way around for more than an inch or so the branch or tree is better to be removed.
If your tree is in a container with nice porous, fast draining soil you literally cannot overwater it, but on the flip side it cannot withstand long periods (more than a couple days) without water. Nurseries water thoroughly 2, 3, or more times a day. When watering fill the container with water repeatedly until run-off at the bottom occurs. If you suspect water is running down the sides without getting the inside of the rootball wet, put the pot in a saucer so it can soak some of the water back in. (Do not leave the pot sitting in water all the time.)